Workplace Exercises Versus Home-based Exercises on Pain and Function Among Office Workers With Non-specific Low Back Pain

Cairo University (CU)

Status: Completed

Conditions: Workplace Exercise; Home Bases Exercise; Function; Pain; Office Worker; Low Back Pain

Treatments: Other: Workplace exercise intervention; Other: Home-based exercise intervention; Other: general education and counseling

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07297680

Heba-Msc

Details and patient eligibility

About

The study was done to investigate the differences between workplace exercises and home-based exercises on pain, function, quality of life, and posture (pelvic inclination angle and lumbar lordotic angle) among office workers with non-specific low back pain

Full description

Low back pain is the most common musculoskeletal disorder among office workers and a leading cause of disability, affecting psychological well-being and quality of life. Approximately 85% to 95% of cases are categorized as non-specific, with chronic low back pain presenting when symptoms last over 12 weeks. Office workers, who often engage in sedentary tasks, face increased risks of low back pain linked to factors such as physical attributes and psychological stressors like mental fatigue and anxiety. It is suggested that people with low back pain exercise, but there is still debate about whether exercise at work is better than exercise at home. This gap in understanding drives the need for a randomized controlled trial to assess the impact of both interventions on pain, function, quality of life, and posture in office workers with non-specific low back pain

Enrollment: 57 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 25 to 40 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. Forty-eight patients with non-specific low back pain of both genders; their ages will range from 25 to 40 years old.
2. Three years of experience at least
3. Eight to ten hours of daily work, at least.
4. Work for 5 days per week.
5. Reported pain intensity from 3 to 7 on a visual analogue scale.
6. Office Workers with body mass index (25 - 29.9 kg/m².
7. Low physical activity levels according to the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (short form).

Exclusion criteria

1. Spine pathology.
2. Back surgical operations.
3. Congenital anomalies.
4. Cardiopulmonary and neurological diseases
5. Pregnancy.
6. Postural deformities.
7. Inflammatory diseases.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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57 participants in 3 patient groups

workplace exercise

Experimental group

Description:

Consists of 20 office workers with non-specific low back pain who will receive workplace exercise intervention, 5 times per week for 4 weeks

Treatment:

Other: Workplace exercise intervention

home program exercises

Active Comparator group

Description:

Home program exercises will be provided three times a week for four weeks, comprising three sets of ten repetitions each. Exercises will target the back, shoulders, and arms using elastic tubing, including reverse flys, shoulder raises, shoulder squeezes, shoulder rotations, wrist extensions, wood choppers, pelvic tilt, quadruped leg/arm raises, side planks, and lean and turns.

Treatment:

Other: Home-based exercise intervention

general education and counseling

Active Comparator group

Description:

Individuals will receive education and counseling on managing pain and function. They should avoid prolonged sitting, moving every 20-30 minutes, and practicing good posture while seated, standing, and walking. Key sitting posture includes keeping feet flat, knees at a 90-degree angle, and maintaining a straight back with proper lumbar support to prevent slouching.

Treatment:

Other: general education and counseling